BOSTON — You can hate Philadelphia defenseman Randy Jones all you want for what he did to Patrice Bergeron last season, but you’ve got to give the guy credit for a sense of humor.

He was booed every time he touched the puck today before his game-winning goal lifted the Flyers over the Boston Bruins, 4-3, in overtime at TD Banknorth Garden. And after the game, he put it all in perspective.

“Were they booing me? I thought they were just calling ‘Lou,'” Jones said. “It definitely feels good, but first and foremost it feels good to get the two points against the top team in our conference. It doesn’t bother me if they want to boo me or cheer me or say whatever to me, it’s another game. It was important game for us. The way we bounced back in the second was a big step for us.” (more…)

It’s worth a read and definitely a deserving tribute to one of the unsung Bruins players. For example, you won’t see those two shots Ward blocked — including one Dany Heatley rocket — at the end of the first period Thursday in Ottawa on the highlights, but you can believe Ward would block shots again if he had to.

MK: Only one grip with the story. Duthie’s not around the Bruins enough to claim that Ward never spouts cliches. He, in fact, does — sometimes. The difference is, unlike most players, Ward will tell you he’s giving you a cliche before he delivers it.

BOSTON — Boston Bruins rookie Blake Wheeler didn’t shy away from the fact that he didn’t play well enough today to earn more playing time in the third period and overtime.

After taking two early third-period shifts, Wheeler was pinned to the pine for the remainder of the contest. When asked by TheBruinsBlog.net after the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime loss to Philadelphia at TD Banknorth Garden if he was surprised he didn’t receive more ice time, Wheeler said:

“I don’t really know how to comment. I put the puck on the guy’s stick for the third goal. So I can understand, I guess,” said the rookie, who was averaging 13:52 of ice time coming in but skated for just 7:30 against the Flyers. “It’s not really up to me when I go out there. When he calls my name I try to go out there and do my best. And that’s all I can say.” (more…)

Jones heard the boos all day from the Garden faithful, who will never forget the Philly defenseman’s hit from behind on Patrice Bergeron that knocked the Bruins center out for the entire season with a Grade 3 concussion in Oct. 2007.

BOSTON — Boston Bruins winger Michael Ryder, victim of a high stick by Antoine Vermette Thursday night in Ottawa, will be sidelined indefinitely due to a fracture somewhere between his eye and his nose, according to Bruins head coach Claude Julien.

“We got some bad news on his situation — it’s a small fracture. So he’s out indefinitely,” Julien told a small media assemblage just moments ago and one hour before his team takes on Philadelphia at TD Banknorth Garden. “He’s going to be looked at again on Monday and it’ll be determined … it depends whether he needs a shield or how deeply it needs to be looked into.”

Julien wouldn’t rule out anything in terms of Ryder’s future, including possible surgery.

In addition to the Ryder news, Julien said that Aaron Ward (flu-like symptoms) will sit out and Manny Fernandez will start in goal. Matt Hunwick will get the nod on the back line.

Check back after the game for complete coverage. And check out my live blog at NESN.com during the game.

All your cards are already on the table, so you just have to come up with some new tricks or hope your talent can pull through against an opponent that’s in the same position.

The Boston Bruins were able to take care of the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday with their defensive prowess, disciplined play (only two power plays surrendered) and timely goal-scoring lifting them. That same recipe should be good enough for two points today.

But while the Bruins were playing Ottawa Thursday and practicing yesterday, the Flyers spent the last two days since their tilt with the Bruins working out the kinks in their game and searching their souls. The Flyers team that takes the ice today is one that knows it needs to take fewer penalties and amp up its power-play efficiency but still maintain that high-octane, full-throttle physical game the Flyers are known for. That should make for some fireworks, as well as some entertaining hockey. (more…)

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins today announced that from Feb. 16 until March 18, season ticket holders can renew their tickets — and 99% of the seats will be staying the same price or will be priced less for those customers.

Out of the 99%, 95% of the seats will be the same price, while the other 4% (the four corner loge sections — 3, 10, 14 & 21) will be reduced in price from $89 this season to $85 for next season.

“When we looked at areas that have sold well as season tickets, that’s an area that we’d like to spur additional season ticket sales,” Bruins VP of Business Operations Dan Zimmer told a small contingent of media today at TD Banknorth Garden.

The only seats that will be increasing in price are the ones along the glass all the way around the rink. The increase will be from $150 to $165.

While the only major news the Bruins had today was about the renewal program, Zimmer acknowledged that the club has received a couple thousand deposits from new customers that want to purchase season tickets for next season. That’s proof that no matter how bad the economy is outside the Garden, the product inside can still attract plenty of greenbacks.

“It’s been very gratifying. It’s really driven by the performance of the team. The team has played terrific this year. We always knew this was a great hockey market. Now we’re getting to see again how strong and loyal our fan base is again,” said Zimmer.

Lucic missed Thursday night’s game in Ottawa because his left foot had swollen up after it was hit by a Ward shot during the Bruins’ win at Philadelphia Wednesday. Today Lucic skated with a extra padding above the spot where he was hit (right on the laces) and said he should be good to play against the Flyers tomorrow in a Garden matinee.

“It’s made a lot of progress from yesterday morning to yesterday night. So it’s feeling pretty good right now,” he said as he undressed in the Bruins’ locker room. (more…)

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins just completed an open practice at TD Banknorth Garden on the heels of their 2-0-0 road trip to Philadelphia and Ottawa.

Defenseman Aaron Ward and wingers Chuck Kobasew and Michael Ryder were not on the ice. Ryder, with a mean stitched-up gash between the bridge of his nose and brow, was seen leaving in street clothes just before the team skated. I’ll have updates on those players and more later on.

The Philadelphia Flyers, who visit TD Banknorth Garden for a rematch of Wednesday’s game with the Boston Bruins Saturday, have been committing right around six minor penalties a game.

That’s a lot of power-play opportunities for the Flyers’ opponents, as Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post explains. Defenseman Kimmo Timmonen knows he and his teammates need to be more careful without losing their aggression. Timmonen could also play a part in reviving the Flyer’s power play, which is currently in a 1-for-25 slump, as Sam Carchidi explains in The Inquirer.

MK: The Bruins will have to be wary of the Flyers finally breaking out of their power-play slump. The best way to do that will be to stay out of the box while taking advantage of the Flyer’s propensity for taking infractions.I’d expect that Saturday’s game will amp up the physicality, unlike the fairly soft game the teams played in Philly.

Friend of TheBruinsBlog.net Ilan Mochari has finally started up his fantasy hockey blog: Fantasy Hockey Genius. Give it a look, it’s worth the trip.

Interesting that Ilan said in his post yesterday you should try to trade for Boston Bruins winger Phil Kessel, if you can, because the third-year sniper’s recent numbers have been down and you might be able to pick him up fairly cheap. Ilan predicts big offensive outburts from Kessel in the near future.

I don’t play fantasy hockey, but that sounds like good advice to me. Might be worth going after Patrice Bergeron while you’re at it because one has to figure he’s ready to bust out sooner rather than later.

For the second time this season, unlikely shootout participant P.J. Axelsson turned into unlikely shootout hero, as his goal in the fifth round of the shootout against Ottawa lifted the Boston Bruins over the Senators, 4-3, tonight at ScotiaBank Place.

The Bruins won the shootout, 1-0, with Tim Thomas making five saves against the Sens’ shooters.

A loss to the top team in the NHL shouldn’t be anything to get discouraged about, but the Philadelphia Flyers — after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Boston Bruins Wednesday — sounded like they were in a bit of a team-wide ‘doubt fest.’

The Flyers, who visit TD Banknorth Garden for a rematch with the Bruins Saturday, have lost three out of four and aren’t even using the absence of captain Mike Richards as an excuse. Among those Flyers questioning the club’s nightly effort in Chuck Gormley’s piece in the Courier-Post is winger Joffrey Lupul.

While the Flyers were taking the loss hard, Rich Hoffman of the Daily News writes they shouldn’t hang their heads too low because “statement games” are overrated and this club can still compete with the best in the league.

No, I’m not talking about tonight’s game with the Ottawa Senators or even Saturday’s showdown with the hated Philadelphia Flyers.

On Friday, the Bruins will hold an open practice at noon at TD Banknorth Garden. From the hours of 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., those that attend can make their way up to the fourth floor to give blood as part of the Bruins’ and American Red Cross’s “Bleed Black and Gold Blood Drive.”

I have to admit, I know nothing about the second-ranked team — Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL. Looks like former Bruins prospect Sergei Zinoviev skates for Ufa, so maybe somewhere down the line there can be an intraplanetary grude match scheduled.

In other news, no teams from other planets have challenged any of Klein’s top 10 teams from Earth.